"Hey #18-san! Try and catch us!" screamed Trunks. Goten and Trunks flew out of the house and headed for the sky. "She won't catch us," giggled Goten. Suddenly #18 appeared right in front of them with her arms crossed. "Ack! #18-san!" Trunks yelled. "Hmph, I don't understand why you kids like to cause so much trouble," she lifted her palm at bit and pointed to the house, "Go!" "Yes ma'm!" Both boys contested with obeyance. Trunks growled, "Damn! We can't have any fun with #18-san in charge! She's too good!" Goten only looked straight ahead without saying a word.

Years pass by, and both Goten and Trunks spend most of the their teenage years without seeing #18. She decided to spend time on her own, feeling that she became to be overcrowding. "Goten! Goten!" Goten turns his head to see Trunks rushing up to him. "You going out with Sheri this weekend?" "Yea. Why?" Trunks frowned, "You're going to have to cancel it, #18 is coming for a visit." Goten gives a puzzling look, "So sudden?" "Yea, it turns out #18 is really sick and she wants my mom to see what's wrong with her." "Is #18 going to be okay?" Trunks shrugged, "No idea."

Bulma and Videl finally entered the room with #18 following behind. The Cyborg, never aging, looked exactly the way she did on the day she left. Goten began to notice what was different about her. "She looks so weak......what's wrong with her?" Gokou went toward #18 and put his hand on her shoulder. "#18, you're strong. I know you'll hang in there while Bulma can find a cure for the virus." 18 gave him a annoyed look, "I have no need for your reassurance Gokou. You know I hate pity." Gokou smiled, "Welcome back." #18 half-smiled back.

"#18 is infected with a computer virus that is degrating all the circuitry in her robotinized half. The virus application was always there in her circuitry, but it wasn't activated until a few weeks ago. Could it have been a Dr. Gero's backup plan for shutting down the androids? How come the virus is only in #18?"

"18?" Goten entered the room where #18 was in her medical bed. She was in a medical scrub and was covered with tubes and wires. She didn't seem to care though, and spent the time looking through the window right next to her bed. "18?" Goten walked up to her and bent over towards her. "Do cyborgs have souls?" "Huh?" #18 turned her head around and looked at Goten. "Do we? We lose most of our real emotions once we become half robot. #17 and I, we aren't human. We have no goals in life, no purpose, we're just........there....for the rest of eternity." "18.." "But I think we do. This thing.....is eating the artifical part of me, but the human part of me feels the pain." Tears rolled down her cheek. "Dr. Gero destroyed my past, my humanity, most of my emotions, but even after he is dead he still has to make me suffer. Now he has to destroy the part that is keeping me alive!"

Goten looked at 18 silently. He had never seen her like this before. He didn't even know that #18 was capable of crying. "18, I have known you all my life. You have helped taken care of Trunks and me even though we were a handful. Don't let the virus beat you. You're too tough to let something like this stop you now. 18....I always believed you were different...there was always something about you that I always....loved."

Ending relationship:
#18 became weaker as weeks went by, and Bulma was finally able to develop an antivirus when #18 is almost dead. Bulma repaired all the circuitry in #18, but her human part needed longer time to recover. Goten stood by #18's side during her recovery. #18 eventually fell in love with him, thankful for everything he did for her. A while after #18 was at full health, they married.

Marriage:
Goten has a hard time realizing he has responsibilities, but with #18's help he gets on the right track and gets a promising job at the Gucci Fashion Industry. They also learn to compromise between #18's need for space and Goten's socializing personality.